"Heroes in white coats" disappointed with government negotiations

The Ségur de la santé, supposed to overhaul the French healthcare system, does not yet convince some of the players present at the meetings for more than two weeks. "These are discussion meetings with agendas that do not correspond to what we could call negotiations", explains Christophe Prudhomme, hospital doctor and trade unionist at the CGT, contacted by France 24. "For now, the government is not putting anything in front of our demands. "

The South Health and Social Union says nothing else, to the point of having "slammed the door" of Ségur de la santé a week after it started. "We were in a completely different context from that of the negotiations and which in fact only served for a government communication operation," said Christophe Geffré, member of the union's executive committee, interviewed by France 24.

On June 9, the Inter-hospital Collective (CIH) - which has been centralizing the demands of hospital staff for several months - also questioned the objective pursued by Ségur de la santé. The CIH "is concerned" in particular, in a press release, "the lack of transparency in the conduct of the work and the absence of quantified announcements".

What roadmap ?

Launched on May 25 by the Prime Minister, Édouard Philippe, and the Minister of Solidarity and Health, Olivier Véran, this major concertation has the "ambition" of "building the foundations of an even more modern health system, more resilient, more innovative, more flexible and more attentive to its professionals, users and regions. "

"The discussions are progressing, and they are advancing by forced march since we have set ourselves less than a month and a half of discussions (the conclusions of the Ségur are expected for mid-July, note)", we are told cabinet of the Ministry of Solidarity and Health, contacted by France 24. "Today, we are at a stage where we have collected as many testimonies and contributions as possible. We are advancing step by step: there we have listen to what we had to say, then there will come a time when we will specify the roadmap. The outcome of this Ségur is expected in a month, and the objective is to leave nothing under the carpet. "

"There is a problem with the method: at the hospital, there are some 120 different professions, how do you put 120 flat salary scales back in four weeks? It is not possible," says Christophe Prudhomme. The hospital doctor requests "an emergency plan" for the public hospital of 15 billion euros, which would notably include salary increases, staff increases or even the overhaul of hospital budgets.

As it stands, "it will remain difficult for the government to stay in salon meetings where it does not announce any figures", specifies the trade unionist CGT. At the Ministry of Solidarity and Health, we "hear the critics" and we specify: "With this Ségur, we are not dealing with an anesthetic product. The goal is to achieve something that is deeply change our health system. "

National mobilization and "meeting" in mid-July

The absence of quantified announcements, for the moment, leaves "a bitter taste" to the participants of Ségur questioned by France 24. "What is happening now, that only multiplies the disgust and the anger of the hospital workers, who not only were sacrificed, but today are exhausted ", explains Christophe Geffré.

Health workers, who "do not ask for a medal" but continue to mobilize to assert their claims, plan June 16 a national day of action they hope followed by the population who applauded them daily for several weeks. The CIH, which refuses the principle of "paid vacation leave to carers", also called on June 4 "citizens and users of the public hospital to ask a day of RTT" June 16 to support their mobilization.

Other actions should follow on June 30, then on July 14.

# DeconfinementJour31 We think of you. Think of us on June 16. Come masked. Come many. Come determined. ❤️👊 pic.twitter.com/VvoXOIeugw

Last March, in the midst of the Covid-19 health crisis, Emmanuel Macron expressed "recognition of the Nation to heroes in white coats", then announced "a massive investment and upgrading plan for all careers" to the hospital. The outcome of these presidential promises is expected in mid-July. "Today the answer is to continue the work," said the Ministry of Solidarity and Health. "And at the conclusion of the Ségur, we will be there."

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